Santos Laguna and Necaxa are competing to sign Ismael Ruiz, a 24-year-old Spanish midfielder currently with Córdoba CF of Spain's Segunda División. Both Mexican clubs have expressed formal interest. Santos Laguna may have an advantage because their economic proposals have been described as very attractive in comparison to other options the player has. Necaxa is also strongly pursuing the player, seeking to add a young midfielder with European training and potential for growth. Grupo Orlegi's management has closely monitored Ruiz; this monitoring was assisted by their relationship with Sporting de Gijón, which provided Santos with detailed reports on the player. Ismael Ruiz has a contract valid until June 2028, and his transfer is valued at around one million dollars, a figure considered affordable for the interested Mexican clubs. Ruiz joined Córdoba in August 2023 and has been capped five times for Spain's U20 team. In the 2025/2026 LaLiga2 season, he has made 19 appearances and provided 2 assists.